By Marc
Gabriel Amigone
If you happen to be walking through the
Elmwood Village on Wednesday nights, by the corner of Lexington and Ashland,
don’t be surprised if you hear the enchanting rhythms of African drums. Configuration School of Ballet, a
ballet school led by nationally renowned dance company Configuration Dance
Theater, is offering a weekly West African Dance class led by Senegalese
percussionist and dancer Youssou Lo.
“More than just dance lessons,
Configuration School of Ballet offers students the chance to truly engage in
the experience of dance,” Co-Directors Joseph Cipolla and Kolleen Fischer
describe what Configuration School of Ballet seeks to accomplish. Configuration moved into its home at 230
Lexington Avenue in September of 2009. In a neighborhood as diverse as The Elmwood Village,
Configuration Dance feels very at home.
“We looked at a number of different places, and we kept gravitating
back to this area,” Joseph Cipolla elaborates, “The art has to reflect the
community. When you put an arts
organization in the middle of a community like this, it’s inevitable that it’s
going to be diverse.”
Of all the classes Configuration has to offer,
they are particularly excited about the West African dance class. Youssou is a native of Senegal, West
Africa and studied West African drum and dance styles with Le Ballet Rhythm
African De Senegal. He has studied djembe drum and dance traditions for over 10
years, including the art of stilt dancing. Youssou has toured with many dance
companies, all over the United States, Germany, Canada, Cypress and
Brazil. Finally, in 1993, he
decided to call the United States his home, residing in Buffalo. Youssou
continues to perform and teach drum and dance in local schools including The
African-American Cultural Center located on Buffalo’s East Side.
Artistic Director Joseph Cipolla describes
African Dance’s relationship to Configuration’s repertoire, saying, “Ballet is our
primary focus. That’s why we
started the studio – that’s our background. The catchword of the day, however, is the fusion
dancer. That’s where dance is
going today.”
Registration is currently open. Walk-ins are welcome as well as phone
registration. The African dance
classes are taught at a beginner to intermediate level, so don’t be afraid of
trying something new. No prior
experience is necessary. It’s a
great cardiovascular workout, so come give it a shot!
230 Lexington Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222-1718
(716) 883-4510
Images: Glenn E. Murray, Esq.